The opening weekend of the NFL season was a painful one across the AFC North – in more ways than one.
It started Thursday night when the Baltimore Ravens were humbled 49-27 in Denver, and the defending Super Bowl champions were soon joined in their mystery by all three of their division rivals, who each lost in their own uniquely painful way.
For the Cincinnati Bengals, a 24-21 loss at Chicago was bitter because it came most as a result of their own doing. The Bengals outgained the Bears 340-323 and had an 11-point lead in the third quarter but penalties (eight) and turnovers (three) let Chicago create the opportunity to rally for the win at Soldier Field.
A.J. Green caught nine passes for 162 yards and a pair of touchdowns but had an Andy Dalton pass go off his hands for one of the Dalton's two interceptions.
The Cleveland Browns posted twice as many first downs (20) as points in a 23-10 home loss to the Miami Dolphins, who intercepted Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden three times and sacked him six times.
But wasting great receiving and defensive performances, respectively, probably pale in comparison to the day the Pittsburgh Steelers had as they lost not only a game to the Tennessee Titans but potentially two starters for the rest of the season.
Star center Maurkice Pouncey lasted fewer than 10 plays before teammate David DeCastro took him out instead of a Titans defensive lineman with a chop block in the first quarter. Pouncey reportedly tore two knee ligaments on the play and will miss the rest of the season.
Veteran linebacker Larry Foote left the game in the fourth quarter with what turned out to be a torn biceps, and he is not expected to be back on the field in 2013, either.
Injuries aside, the Steelers hardly looked like a team poised to bounce back from missing the playoffs in 2012. The Titans held them to 195 total yards, including 32 on the ground. Meanwhile, Tennessee ground out 112 yards on 42 rushes and maintained a 34:01-25:59 advantage in time of possession.
